Container for a keg or the like



Feb. 1, 1966 w, F, HUNT 3,232,491

CONTAINER FOR A KEG OR THE LIKE Filed May 22, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F G 2 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM E HUNT HIS ATTORNEYS Feb. 1, 1966 w, U

CONTAINER FOR A KEG OR THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1963 HIS ATTORNEYS Feb. 1, 1966 w. F. HUNT CONTAINER FOR A KEG OR THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 22, 1963 INVENTOR WILLIAM F. HUNT jr FIG.5

BY iw W HIS ATTORNEYS Feb. 1, 1966 W. F. HUNT CONTAINER FOR A KEG OR THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed May 22, 1965 INVENTOR. WILLIAM E HUNT BY 24% w HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,232,491 CGNTAINER FGR A KEG OR THE LEKE Wiliarn F. Hunt, Louisville, Ky., assignor to Reynolds Metals (Zornpany, fichmond, 1a., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 22, 1963, Ser. No. 282,370 8 (Ilaims. (Cl. 222154) This invention relates to an improved container for storing a keg of beer or the like.

It is well known that people are more frequently buying beer and other beverages in larger and more economical containers not only for home use but also for picnics and the like.

Thus, it has become necessary to provide some means for readily maintaining such large sized containers in a refrigerated manner so that the same can be utilized on the aforementioned picnics and other outings.

For example, beer is now being sold in barrel-shaped kegs formed of metallic material, such as aluminumcontaining metallic material or the like, having a capacity of around 2 to 2 /2 gallons.

Such kegs are readily adaptable for being disposed on the conventional shelf in a refrigerator or the like in such a manner that the dispensing faucet of the keg will be disposed toward the front of the refrigerator whereby the ultimate consumer need only bring his glass to the dispensing means to draw the desired quantity of beer without requiring removal of the rather cumbersome keg for such dispensing purpose, the beer normally being under pressure in the keg so that tipping of the keg is not required even when the keg is almost empty.

However, before the teachings of this invention, no suitable means had been provided for maintaining the refrigerated condition of such keg for use on picnics and other outings where a refrigeration system cannot be utilized.

According to the teachings of this invention, however, an improved container is provided for receiving such a keg or the like wherein the container supports the keg in a novel manner to permit the same to be completely surrounded by ice or other cooling medium so that the keg will be refrigerated and the beverage remain cool until the same is dispensed from the keg.

Further, the improved container of this invention has means for readily dispensing the beverage from the keg or the like without requiring removal of the keg from the container of this invention whereby cumbersome handling of the keg is not required.

Accordingly, it'is an object of this invention to provide an improved container for a beverage keg or the like, the container having one or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the improved container of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates the container with the window means thereof removed to permit dispensing of the beverage from the keg contained in the container of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the various parts of the container of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of FIGURE 4.

3,232,491 Patented Feb. 1, 1%65 "ice FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 77 of FIGURE 6.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable for providing a container for a keg of beer or the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide a container for other devices as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the Wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the improved container of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises an open ended container body 11, a cover 12 for closing the container body 11 and a removable member or window 13 utilized in a. manner hereinafter described whereby it can be seen that the container 10 of this invention is formed from only a few basic parts.

As illustrated in FIGURE 3, the container body 11 has a substantially rectangular bottom wall 14 integrally interconnected to upstanding opposed pairs of side walls 15, 16 and 17, 18 integrally interconnected together at the corners of the bottom of the body member 11 to define a compartment 19 in the container body 11 that has an open upper end 24! defined by the upper edges of the side walls -18.

The upper edges of the side walls 15418 of the com tainer body 11 are provided with inwardly offset and upwardly directed flange means 21 adapted to be received in recess means 22 formed in the cover member 12 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 4 land 5 whereby the cover member 12 can be positively located on the container body If to completely close the open end 20 thereof. Further, by providing a snug fit between the flange means 21 of the container body 11 and the recess means 22 of the cover member 12, a more air-tight container is provided.

The container body 11 and cover member 12 are preferably formed of heat insulating material. For example, the container body 11 and cover 12 can be formed of molded Styrofoam or the like whereby the cover member 12 and container body 11 can each be formed in a relatively simple and economical manner.

The inside surfaces of the opposed side walls 15 and 15 of the container body 11 are respectively interrupted by recesses 23 and 24, each recess 23 and 24 extending to the open end 29 of the container body 11 at one end thereof and terminating short of the bottom Wall 14 at the other end thereof in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 4 for a purpose hereinafter described. Each recess 23 and 24 defines an arcuate lower shoulder or mounting means 25 at the bottom thereof to be complementary to the opposed cylindrical end walls 26 and 27 of a conventional keg-like member 28 to be disposed in compartment 1% of the container 19 of this invention in a manner hereinafter described.

The arcuate shoulder portions 25 of the recesses 23 and 24 are interconnected at the opposed ends thereof to substantially straight and parallel flanges or shoulders 29 that extend to the open end Ell of the container body 11.

Thus, when it is desired to dispose the keg 28 in the container 10 of this invention, the cover 12 is removed and the keg 28 is inserted downwardly into the compartmerit 19 of the container body 11 by having the opposed end walls 26 and 27 thereof respectively received in the recesses 2 and 23 until the end walls 26 and 27 of the keg 28 rest on the arcuate shoulders 25 of the recesses 23 and 24 in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 whereby the shoulders 25 suspend the keg 28 in the container body 11 in spaced relation from the bottom wall 14 thereof.

In this manner, ice or other cooling media can be disposed in the compartment 19 to substantially, completely surround the suspended keg 28 to fully cool the same, the heat insulating characteristic of the container assisting the cooling media in maintaining the beverage in the keg 28 in the desired refrigerated condition thereof. Of course, the keg 28 could be refrigerated before insertion in the container 10, and the container 10 would maintain the beverage cool even though no cooling media is placed in the container 10 because of the heat-insulating qualities of the container 10.

In order to drain water or other moisture from the container 10 of this invention, a suitable drain plug 30 is threadedly disposed in a threaded bore 31 provided in the rear wall 16 of the container body 11 adjacent the bottom wall 14 thereof in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4.

' If desired, the drain plug 30 can merely be assembled to the container 10 by a press fit relation rather than by the threaded relation illustrated.

The front end wall 27 of the keg 28 is suitably recessed to receive a dispensing faucet 32 and actuating handle 33 thereof in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 whereby the dispensing faucet 32 and handle 33 of the keg 28 do not impede insertion of the keg 28 in the compartment 19 of the container 10 of this invention.

In order to permit the beverage in the keg 28 to be selectively dispensed without removal of the cumbersome keg 28 from the container 10 of this invention, the front wall of the container body 11 is cut away at 34 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3 to define an opening 35 that intersects the recess 23 and is, thus, disposed adjacent the dispensing faucet 32 and handle 33 of the keg 28 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3, the opening 35 extending to the opened end of the container body 11 and terminating short of the shoulder of the recess 23 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4.

' The portion of the side wall 15 bordering the three sides of the opening are respectively interrupted by a continuous slot 36 adapted to receive the peripheral edge of the member 13 when the member 13 is inserted vertically downwardly in the slot 36 in the manner indicated by the dashed lines in FIGURE 3, the member 13 being larger than the opening 35 and having the upper end 37 thereof extending beyond the open end 2d of the container body 11 when the member 13 is fully received in the slot 36 of the side wall 15.

Thus, the front portion of the peripheral flange of the cover 12 of the container 10 is provided with a cutout 38 to receive the upper portion 37 of the member 13 when the cover is disposed over the open end 20 of the container 11, the cover 12 also having a slot 38, FIGURE 4, to reeive the peripheral edge of the upper end 37 of the member 13 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4 whereby it can be seen that the member 13 can be substantially sealed to the container body 11 and cover 12 when disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1.

While the member 13 can be formed of any suitable material, it is preferred that the member 13 be formed of glass or transparent plastic material so that a person can see the keg 28 in the container 10 when the member 13 is utilized in combination with the container 10 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1.

However, it is desirable'that the window member 13 be treated or colored in such a manner that the same tends to prevent infra-red rays from reaching the keg 28 to tend to heat up the beverage in the keg 28.

Thus, it can be seen that when the container 10 is assembled in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1 and has the keg 28 disposed therein, not only does the container 10 end to prevent heat from reachin the ke 10 to heat up the beverage thereof, but also the container 11 provides means for storing a cooling medium around the keg 28 to tend to maintain the beverage in a refrigerated form.

Thus, the container 10 is readily adapted to transport and store the keg It) in its refrigerated form so as to be usable on picnics and other outings.

When it is desired to dispense the beverage from the keg 119, the cover 12 is removed from the container body 11 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 3 and the window member 13 is readily removed from the slot 35 in the side wall 15 whereby the resulting opening 35 in the side wall 15 completely exposes the faucet 32 and handle 33 of the keg 28.

Thereafter, the cover is replaced in its closed position in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2 so that various people can approach the container 10 and dispense a glass of beer or the like by merely holding the glass under the faucet 32 and operating the handle 33 in the conventional manner.

Because the opposed end Walls 26 and 27 of the keg 28 are snugly received against the opposed side walls 15 and 16 of the container body 11 at the recesses 23 and 24, it can be seen that the front end wall 27 of the keg 28 substantially seals the opening 35 from the remaining portion of the compartment 19 of the container 10 when the container 10 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 to tend to prevent an adverse amount of heated atmospheric air from reaching the interior of the container 10 to not only melt the ice or other cooling medium disposed in the compartment 19 but to also prevent the same from heating up the keg 28 to an adverse degree.

Thus, after the desired quantity of fluid has been (llS-' pensed from the keg 28, the Window member 13 can; be replaced therein in the manner previously described to further store the keg 28 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 1.

However, with the window 13 removed in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2, the container can still maintain the beverage in the keg 28 at the desired refrigerated condition for a relatively long period of time without replacement of the window 13 because of the aforementioned sealing effect of the end wall 27 of the keg 28 around the opening 35 in the container 10.

If desired, the opposed end walls 17 and 18 of the container 10 of this invention can be provided with suitable handle means 39 secured thereto in any suitable manner to provide grasping means for lifting and carrying thefilled container of this invention.

When the container 111 is formed of the aforementioned styrofoam material, the overall weight of the keg filled container 10 is not much more than the weight of the keg 28 by itself.

While no previous mention has been made of means for decorating the container 10 of this invention, it is to be understood that the same can be decorated by the printing, embossing, or the like, of trademarks, etc., on the exterior of the container and the trim means illustrated can be provided by mylar or similar material, silk screening or the like.

Further, the cover member 12 of the container 10 of this invention is so designed that the same can be utilized as a holder for the keg 28.

In particular, when it is desired to utilize the keg 283 in an-open manner, the cover member 12 can be removed from the container body 11 and placed in an upside down fashion on the center of the table or the like: whereby ice can be placed in the upwardly facing cavity/ thereof so that the keg 28 can be placed down on top) of the ice for dispensing purposes thereof.

In addition, it is also possible to place glasses, food, or the like in the ice surrounding the keg 28 for prechilling thereof.

Therefore, it can be seen that there are several ways of utilizing the container of this invention for dispensing beer or the like from the keg 28.

Further, while the container 10 of this invention is previously described as being formed entirely of molded styrofoam or the like, it is to be understood that the container 10 of this invention could be made in many different ways while still incorporating the above described novel features of this invention.

For example, the container of this invention could be provided with a durable outer molded plastic or metal shell which would be lined inside with styrofoam, urethane or the like to complete the construction thereof.

In particular, another container of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 50 in FIG- URES 6 and 7 and parts thereof similar to the container 10 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter A.

As illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7, the container 50 of this invention includes a body member 11A and a cover member 12A with the body member 11A and cover member 12A each including an outer metallic or durable plastic shell 51 lined with suitable insulating material 52, such as Styrofoam, urethane or the like, the lining material 52 being formed in substantially the same manner as the cover member 12 and body member 11 previously described to hold the keg 28 and window means 13.

Thus, it can be seen that the container 50 of this in vention would be substantially more durable than the container 10 previously described because the container 50 has a protective outer shell 51 on both the cover and body portions thereof to provide a container construction which would be substantially long-lasting.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention provides an improved container for not only readily supporting a keg of beer or the like therein, but also for maintaining the beverage in the keg at the desired temperature while still permitting the beverage to be dispensed from the keg without removing the keg from the container of this invention.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a container having side Wall means defining a compartment in said container, said side Wall means having opposed recesses provided therein and interconnected to said compartment, said recesses respectively defining shoulder means, said side wall means having an opening passing therethrough, a member for selectively opening and closing said opening, and a keg or the like disposed in said compartment and having end walls received in said recesses and resting on said shoulder means, said keg having dispensing means disposed adjacent said opening.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said opening intersects one of said recesses.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member provides window means,

4. A container for a keg or the like and having side wall means defining a compartment in said container,

said side wall means having opposed recesses provided therein and interconnected to said compartment, said recesses respectively defining shoulder means for supporting said keg or the like in said compartment, said side wall means having an opening passing therethrough for exposing dispensing means of said keg or the like, said opening being selectively opened and closed by a member.

5. In combination, a container having a container body and a cover, said container body having a bottom Wall means and side wall means cooperating together to define an open ended compartment in said container body, said cover closing said open end of said compartment, said side wall means having opposed recesses provided therein and interconnected to said compartment, said recesses extending to said open end of said container body and terminating short of said bottom Wall means to define shoulder means, said side wall means having an opening passing therethrough, a member for selectively opening and closing said opening, and a keg disposed in said compartment and having end Walls received in said recesses and resting on said shoulder means, said keg having dispensing means disposed adjacent said opening.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said opening has one end thereof bounded by said cover.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said cover and said side wall means has slot means to receive the entire peripheral edge of said member.

8. A container for a keg or the like and having a container body and a cover, said container body having a bottom Wall means and side Wall means cooperating together to define an open ended compartment in said container body, said cover closing said open end of said compartment, said side Wall means having opposed recesses provided therein and interconnected to said compartment, said recesses extending to said open end of said container body and terminating short of said bottom Wall means to define shoulder means to support said keg or the like in said compartment, said side wall means having an opening passing therethrough adjacent the dispensing means of said keg or the like, said opening being selectively opened and closed by a member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 163,140 5/1875 Boardman 222-108 268,313 11/1882 Stokes et al 222-183 285,967 10/1883 Chapman 222-108 635,474 10/1899 Grap 222183 1,832,798 11/1931 Taylor 222182 2,008,121 7/1935 Armbruster 222-108 2,014,492 9/1935 Burdge 222l83 X 2,754,664 7/1956 Oltz 222182 X 2,977,027 3/1961 Alden 222-156 2,994,425 8/ 1961 Honeycutt. 3,023,885 3/1962 Kindseth. 3,048,267 8/ 1962 Starzec.

FOREIGN PATENTS 15,503 1914 Great Britain. 24,400 1893 Great Britain.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A CONTAINER HAVING SIDE WALL MEANS DEFINING A COMPARTMENT IN SAID CONTAINER, SAID SIDE WALL MEANS HAVING OPPOSED RECESSES PROVIDED THEREIN AND INTERCONNECTED TO SAID COMPARTMENT, SAID RECESSES RESPECTIVELY DEFINING SHOULDER MEANS, SAID SIDE WALL MEANS HAVING AN OPENING PASSING THERETHROUGH, A MEMBER FOR SELECTIVELY OPENING AND CLOSING SAID OPENING, AND A KEG OR THE LIKE DISPOSED IN SAID COMPARTMENT AND HAVING END WALLS RECEIVED IN SAID RECESSES AND RESTING ON SAID SHOULDER MEANS, SAID KEG HAVING DISPENSING MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID OPENING. 